Henry Holt 2010 151p 16.99
978-0-8050-9082-6 ms/hs E-BN
It is 1851 and Frederika Bremer is a writer and a woman on a mission for women’s rights. She was looking for simple place to stay in Cuba so that she could write. What she found would change the lives of two women and give her insight into what women need to liberate themselves. In 1851 there was still slavery in many countries and Cuba was not any different.
Frederika Bremer is a woman looking for place to quietly write her thoughts, her observations and her stories. Raised as an aristocrat, Frederika asked the Swedish consulate to find her a simple home in Cuba. Instead she was sent to a rich family’s home and although surprised Frederika discovered a complexity of life involving women and their freedom and giving plenty food for thought on women’s rights.
Cecilia the slave girl became a companion to Frederika because she was able to speak English as well as Spanish. In this way she found freedom in the ability to move around freely with the foreign mistress. They both took pleasure in releasing the fireflies as others captured them and placed them in jars to die.
Elena the daughter of the house found herself a prisoner of her own house and society rules as her mother found their house guest to have to much freedom in her everyday movements. As Cecilia found freedom in her own way, Elena watched from the window at her lack of freedom envying the slave and wondering what freedom really was. Frederika observed both girls and tried to find a way to help them both in way that would be acceptable for society and for the family.
Told in the form of a poem this wonderful story of freedom and discovery will have you wondering about the term of freedom and what it really means. Diaz,Magna
1 comment:
I am very interested in reading this book. It looks like the character study is well done. I look forward to reading about how these three women relate with each other and the circumstances they have been dealt.
Post a Comment